Reviews
A Heart Just Like My Mother's
“Anna, an introspective, creative, and self-deprecating young girl finds herself lacking compared to her elegant and fashionable mother. Contemplating her mother’s exciting escapades, she thinks of herself as not as creative, not as caring, and not as much fun. Anna’s devoted View →
Bubbe's Got the Beat
“A close-knit Jewish family’s preparations for Shabbat are set to a hip-hop beat in this attractive board book. Each lively four-line verse is sung by a smiling boy sporting a backwards baseball cap. His gray-haired Bubbe, wearing a sunny yellow apron, dances along waving a… View →
Rosie Saves the World
“Rosie is ready to save the world, so she begins to help people in her neighborhood. But in the process she neglects her family until she discovers that tikkun olam, repairing the world, starts in her home. Tammie Lyon, an award-winning illustrator whose work is seen in the book,… View →
The Cholent Brigade
“Mr. Monty Nudelman is a mensch (good person). On Friday morning following a big storm, he happily shovels snow from the sidewalks, alleys and front porches of his neighbors so they can prepare for Shabbat. When he does not show up for Shabbat services on Saturday morning, View →
Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah in Chelm
“Glaser (author of Stone Soup with Matzoh Balls, BCCB 3/14) returns for a second visit to Chelm, the village of fools from Jewish folklore; now it’s the first night of Hanukkah and Faigel can’t remember her latke recipe. She knows she uses… View →
“The twins, Sophie and Seth, along with their parents, enjoy a picnic lunch on Shabbat, their favorite day of the week. After saying the motzi over challah, drinking cider, and eating fruit and cheese, they run off to the barn where they discover twin newborn calves. Rhyming… View →
Hanukkah Delight!
“In brief board-book form Newman revisits the familiar Hanukkah traditions she successfully introduced in Eight Nights of Chanukah, illustrated by Elivia Savadier (2005), and Here Is the World, illustrated by Susan Gal (2014). Here the holiday stands on its own without parodying a… View →
Gabriel's Horn
“Kimmel first adapted I.L. Peretz’s story ‘Seven Years’ for his collection Days of Awe: Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Viking Press, 1991). Here is another version of the story in picture book format with a modern boy as the main… View →
Latke, the Lucky Dog
“Do we need another juvenile Hanukkah book? The answer is definitively yes, in the case of this lovely new dog-centric book which gives a unique perspective on the holiday.” — Jewish Book World View →
Mazel Tov! It's a Boy/Mazel Tov! It's a Girl
“Fans of flip picture books, k’vel! Here is a well thought out, useful, warm, happy picture book with a sound life-cycle topic. Excellent photographs and sweetly chronological events capture the thrilling experience of welcoming a new baby, one way for girls, flip! the other View →
3 Falafels in My Pita: A Counting Book of Israel
“Set in Israel, the simple text of this counting book highlights locations (such as Masada, Tel Aviv, Eilat, and the Western Wall) to teach numbers one through ten. All of the cheerful, brightly-colored illustrations, ending with ten multicultural youngsters dancing the hora, are… View →
The Wren and the Sparrow
“The affecting text is filled with both pathos and hope, befitting the author’s status as U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate (2011 – 2013). Somber watercolor and pencil illustrations convey the historical darkness of the time, yet are punctuated with the… View →
Jodie's Shabbat Surprise
“Jodie’s Shabbat Surprise is the newest addition to a series of picture books about Jodie, who wants to follow in the footsteps of her archaeologist father. This one has her (and her dog, Digger) finding an ancient wine press in an Israeli park not far from her home. View →
Engineer Ari and the Passover Rush
“The appeal of the Engineer Ari series continues to be its consistent and charming simplicity, which focuses not only on a well known Jewish holiday tradition (e.g. the seder plate), but on a sense of both history and community as well. An appealing addition to the holiday… View →
Escape from Egypt
“Twins Scarlett and Sam are quarreling while their parents and grandmother are getting ready for the Pesach seder. Their quarrel leads to a trip on their grandmother’s magic carpet that transports them back in time to ancient Egypt. Although they are still in their modern… View →
“A peppy, lively Shabbat song full of spirit and cheer, Shabbat Shalom, Hey! is known to many children who love to clap to its rhythms and shout out the ‘Hey’ emphatically and joyfully. In this bright, colorful picture book, Ann Koffsky has illustrated the… View →
And Then Another Sheep Turned Up
“This lovely story is told with great humor. Repetition of certain phrases will delight young readers, as will the fact that this story is told in rhyme. The protagonists – the family and their guests – are all sheep, which will also hold the attention of the youngest… View →
New Month, New Moon
“This book is well done and filled with facts that will integrate the holiday of Rosh Chodesh with the teaching of astronomy. In addition, children will develop an appreciation of the earth’s environment. This can be a perfect addition to a classroom unit on Israel or Rosh… View →
Apple Days: A Rosh Hashanah Story
“Seeing members of the community pitch in to help Katy, and following along as she and her father cook might inspire readers to start a new Rosh Hashana tradition.” — Jewish Book World View →
Sadie, Ori, and Nuggles Go to Camp
“This short picture book portrays a realistic look at a natural concern. It is amusingly told and accompanied by colorful, whimsical illustrations which make camp look like lots of fun.” — Jewish Book World View →
Goldie Takes a Stand: Golda Meir's First Crusade
“This is a lovely addition to the biography shelf for the youngest readers” — starred review, Jewish Book World View →
Sammy Spider's First Mitzvah
“Everyone’s favorite little spider is back, still spinning webs and still teaching children Jewish values in his delightful way. His latest adventure educates about the mitzvah of bikur cholim, visiting the sick to promote healing and to bring comfort and a sense of caring.… View →
Apple Days: A Rosh Hashanah Story
“Soffer’s first children’s book is an entertaining read that will delight young children who will share Katy’s enthusiasm. McMahon’s colorful, cartoon-like illustrations radiate high spirit and energy.” — American Jewish World View →
Ziggy's Big Idea
“Cleverly written and tastily presented, this sweet book is highly recommended for ages 5-9.” — Jewish Book World View →